Warning: This chapter contains mentions of rape and sexual violence. Tell me if you want me to put a rating level for each chapter. Yet, I don't think that it was enough to make it an M chapter…
I really hope that you are going to like this tenth chapter. Please R&R and tell me what you have thought about it!
I was laying the foundations of my story to this chapter. So I just wanted you to know that after this chapter, the pace of the story is going to increase.
Since I didn't receive enough reviews to see your preferences about Luna's pairing, I will wait a little longer before to make my decisions clear.
I wanted to thank GAwriter and theflowerblooms for reviewing regularly my story. I really hope that you will continue to enjoy it! I also express my gratitude to you two for favoring/following it, just as SupergodzillaSailorCosmos, CrazyManhwaGirl, Poosa-ard and SIMON80420.
Disclaimer: I do not own neither Gakuen Alice, which belongs to Tachibana Higuchi, nor Avengers, which belongs to Marvel and even less Harry Potter, which is the work of the wonderful J.K.R :) But I do own the plot and my OC characters of course.
Chapter 6: Of Evilness and Manipulations:
The dry and very warm air of the Sahara did have a dizzying effect on Mikan Sakura, who was resting under the shadow of an oasis of her creation. The young woman had abused too much of her Alices: Corrosion and Teleportation could be very useful, but not without a direful price to pay. The first was too instable for her environment and especially for herself, endangering her life constantly and the Nullification and Healing Alices were the only ones that could bring a semblance of equilibrium in her body. Indeed, Mikan Sakura Yukihira had to survive her own body and the countless Stones that were inside it. This explained why the young woman would rather use complex combinations of Alices, requiring energy, that had the same effects than those more direful. As for the Teleporting Alice, it required her way less concentration and energy than the Corrosion one. Indeed, it was an Alice that had always been highly compatible with her, as it had previously belonged to her mother. Naturally, it was without counting on the fact that, in less than three hours, Mikan had teleported twice into too long distances, which required also a considerable amount of physical energy…
While she was resting, Mikan took advantage of her situation to observe carefully the landscape. The climate was intensely hot, and, outside the oasis, there was no shadow for miles, no place to hide from the burning sun. Imposing red sand dunes were stretching to the horizon in graceful, symmetrical lines. Mikan had to admit that the scenery had its suggestive beauty… Deserts were the most challenging of places on Earth: scalding hot during the day and freezing cold at night, deserts were one of the world's hardest environments, in which there was hardly any water, the sand was hard to walk on, the wind could be strong, and sandstorms could erupt with barely a moment to notice. They were impressive and were often feared because of the dangerous animals that inhabited them, like snakes, scorpions, spiders, Africanized bees, wasps and so on… All misunderstood creatures, that were often seen as vicious. What a joke! The Mankind was the only species on Earth who was capable of vileness. This was the reason why Mikan had never feared animals... Moreover, the young woman was in the possession of both the Animal Pheromone Alice and the Animal Metamorphosing one, which explained why animals were mostly friendly to her. If she was honest, she would even admit that she kind of admired them, they had merit: they were survivors.
Feeling better, the Alice stood up and made the illusion disappear. She had few kilometers to cover before to arrive at the secret base of the S.H.I.E.L.D named the Sandbox, which had a better security system than Excalibur, which was how was named the secret base of Alaska. Still, it wouldn't be that much of a challenge. Indeed, to get in and out of the structure would be easy: she had the very intent to teleport herself directly in the vault where was guarded the Necklace of Black Pearls, since Fury had unwittingly given her enough information to be able to do so. She was going to be quick; all she need was to take the Artefact and disappear just as soon as she had appeared in the vault.
The young woman concentrated herself on the mental picture she had of her destination, activated a strong Barrier and teleported herself to the Necklace of Black Pearls' vault. Much to her surprise, Mikan apparated in front of two persons, a man with raven hair, whose evergreen eyes were covered by round glasses, accompanied by a woman with long dirty blond hair and wide silvery eyes. They were quick to point their wands towards her, the Necklace levitating near them. Mikan frowned, she had thought that the Artefact contained an evil spirit, she had been wrong: that disgusting object was the container of a piece of soul, of the darkest shade of aura Mikan had ever seen. The young woman felt an overwhelming desire to throw up. She had never witnessed such a sick and horrendous thing, to the point she felt all the colors drained from her face. Mikan inhaled sharply and banished all the appalling memories that were revived by this terrifying sight. Finally, she regained some calm and composure before to raise her hands up, in a pacifistic motion. She had reacted less quickly than the two wizards, but she had had the natural instinct to immediately active her Mind-Reading Alice: they all came there for the same reason. Fighting them wouldn't be necessary.
"My name is Mikan Sakura, I came here with the same purpose as you: to destroy the Necklace of Black Pearls. You are Hermione Weasley's friends isn't?" tried tactfully the young Alice.
"How do you know Hermione's real surname?" asked Harry, suspicious of the Alice woman's intention.
"You do have Legilimency right? Well, I do possess the Mind-Reading and the Telepathy Alices Stones, they are less efficient and complex than your spell, but it is a good asset too. In fact, the day your friend came to my capsule I have sensed she was special, or rather the vibes coming from her were – it very interesting to see that your wands are sentient, by the way… – it was obvious that she wasn't part of the Avengers and, since I wanted to keep my cards close to my chest, I wasn't keen to have any bad surprise. I have activated My Mind-Reading Alice and what a surprise to discover that the Doctor Granger was in fact Hermione Weasley, an important witch in a British Wizarding Society, who had the very intention to found out about every well-kept secret hidden in my mind." explained Mikan with a casual and detached attitude that could have rivaled with Luna's.
"What makes you think that we are to believe you so easily? If you really want so much to keep 'your cards close to your chest', why would you tell us all this?" queried Harry, who wasn't for the least ready to believe or trust a stranger's words.
Harry was surprised to see her give him a friendly and carefree smile.
"You don't have to believe me. Yet, I may want to point out the fact that I had the very intention to find a way or another to get in contact with your Wizarding Society, so I would have been able to hand it over to you. Ms. Weasley was thinking about similar things the day we have met, and, to me, as long as it is destroyed, it doesn't matter who is going to be the one to do it." shrugged Mikan. "… I see that you still don't seem to be convinced", she simply stated. The Alice considered quickly her options, before to make her choice: "OK. I will try to prove you my good faith: if you really want to, Miss Luna Lovegood will be allowed to use the Legilimency spell on me. You aren't one to fooled easily, you already have some wide knowledge about Alices that will help you understand my situation. You have a comprehensive nature and I believe that, with you, my secrets will be well guarded…"
Luna smiled kindly to the woman in front of her. It wasn't in response of her flattery, which had been earnest, but because she had studied Mikan Sakura enough to recognize in her someone who could observe way farther than her human eyes allowed. People of their kind, who were sensitive, receptive to the others' auras and to the real nature of things, were very pure beings, who had proven themselves worthy enough to earn this precious gift. Mikan Sakura had recognized that facet of hers too, reason why she had chosen to rely on her rather than on Harry. The latter was observing them quite puzzled by their strange interaction but chose to trust his friend.
"I do already trust you…" the pale Mikan smiled, thankful even though she knew what was coming next: "… Still, I think that it will be more secure if I do take a look. I promise that I will keep what I'll see to myself.", promised earnestly Luna. The Alice simply nodded at her; Luna was one of the fewest people she had ever meet who conveyed such positive and powerful vibes, she reminded her of the Ancient One…
Mikan closed her eyes, deactivated her Barrier Alice and prepared herself mentally to accept someone intrude her memories. When she opened her hazel again, she locked her gaze in Luna's with determination. The witch pointed her wand at her and used a wordless incantation.
It was Luna's first time practicing the Legilimency spell, she usually didn't need it to read in her opponents' behaviors or to decide if they were telling the truth. Yet, she knew that Mikan had trusted her because she needed them to trust her back and practicing Legilimency on her was the quicker option.
The first memory that presented itself to Luna was the one of what seemed to be a five years old girl crying alone under a tree, a collection of candy bags spread around her small body. Her face hidden in her hands, the little girl missed the heart-shaped light reflection that came over her. 'Someone who loved her very much was watching over her.' thought Luna.
The image vanished to the favor of a scenery in which an older version of the young Mikan Sakura was walking insouciantly in front of an imposing gate, in which figured the inscriptions 'Alice Academy'. Luna observed carefully how Mikan got to be accepted by the Academy… The little girl was unconscious, then, that she had forever sealed her destiny... Many other souvenirs defiled quickly and the silvery wide-eyed woman watched how the ten years old version of Mikan Sakura earned quickly the affection of her comrades, her frequent altercations with the Elementary School Principal, the Academy Rebellions, her time-travel in the past, in which she had discovered her real identity, to her doom, the day the ESP achieved to fake his, hers and another boy's deaths. All of these happened only in two years.
Luna witnessed what had been the long and laborious journey of the young teenager that was Mikan Sakura back then. Her life had become more and more suffocating, between the training, the missions, way too dangerous for such young kids, being constantly separated from her friend Natsume, the sexual attraction of the so named Kuonji toward her, and how she had managed, each time, to escape his disgusting touch. Life was becoming harder and harder to support, to deal with for the poor girl, who still managed to remain untainted by the dirt encircling her… The thirteen years old Mikan Sakura took a bullet to protect a child, she refused categorically to kill and kept being generous to the ones who needed her help the most. But it was only one way to brighten her life, to trick her heart so she would have the courage to face the following days. Luna realized just how close Mikan Sakura had been from suicide. Yet, once again, it was her compassionate and generous nature that kept her from ending her life. The fourteen years old girl had feared the consequence that would fall inexorably on her friend, Natsume Hyûga, if she ever achieved to kill herself… He would be left alone to face this miserable life; all her missions would have been given to him and she knew that such a rhythm would have killed him. Let apart the fact that Natsume Hyûga would have been the one to deal with Kuonji's anger once her suicide would have been discovered…
Eventually came the day when the fourteen years old teenagers were send to the mission that had seen the end of Natsume Hyûga, Mikan Sakura's first love. Luna's heart sank at the scene: the young girl had had no other choices, it was either her friend's life or a thousand ones that had to be sacrificed that night. The usually dreamy woman felt very down-to-earth at that sight. At fourteen years old Harry had witnessed Cedric Diggory's death and Voldemort rise again. This little girl, at the same age, had been in the obligation to confront her friend, possessed by an unknown wizard's Horcrux. She had planted a dagger in his heart and had held him close to her chest, never breaking eyes contact with him, crying and apologizing, whispering comforting nonsense to him. Before to give his last breath away, the little boy kissed her on the check and whispered her his gratitude, biding her his farewells... That day, a part of her soul died... 'There're people like Harry and Mikan Sakura whose life is always hit by the worst unjustified injustices, when others do never struggle in their life and do never realize how thankful they should be for it…' thought sadly Luna.
The witch wasn't given the opportunity to observe how the younger version of the Alice handed the Artefact over to the S.H.I.E.L.D. Natsume Hyûga dead, the overwhelmed young woman tried to escape from the gasp of the ESP. She took her time to find a good place to burry and give the last homages to the little boy. Unfortunately, Mikan Sakura's escape was short lived as she was soon confronted again by the clandestine organization. They were merciless to the already defeated little girl. The poor creature was cruelly beaten up and had to endure countless humiliations. Luna froze, horrified: Men and women of the organization touched the little girl, played with her tortured and bruised naked body, amused by her uncontrollable sobs, her cries of agony. They had finally achieved to break her, taint her! Her undercover name The Red Lotus didn't represent anymore her purity, but the color of the blood she had lost that night, from her broken barriers, from the molestation and the several penetrations… This little saint, usually full of courage, had been turned into a sobbing broken toy who was now imploring them to kill her; to end her endless pains; begging, in vain, for mercy…
Luna couldn't neither tear her eyes away from the cruel scenery, nor from Mikan Sakura's eyes. She was trembling uncontrollably and was feeling sick. 'How could people be so cruel toward another human being?' Luna knew the response to well... The Mankind did find a perverted pleasure into breaking and lowering others to their levels… 'Oh, yes! Who could better understand Mikan Sakura's pain than me?' thought Luna, bitterly. She had witnessed and experienced too much of it herself… Her own souvenirs from when she had been kidnapped by the Death Eaters came back mercilessly, forcefully to her mind. Silent tears began to slip down her pale checks and Luna made no efforts to wipe them away. A wave of understanding crossed Mikan's hazel wet eyes. 'We have gone through the same horrors and cruelty of war...'
Thankfully, another souvenir came. It was two years after the incident, which showed Mikan Sakura wake up in the middle of a real bloodbath, with a powerful scent of burned chair. Luna shivered at the terrifying and inhuman scenery. After two years of a long induced-coma, the sixteen years old girl had changed both physically and spiritually. She had a countless number of Alices Stones inside her body, which had grown up and was more muscular. Particularly, Mikan was also able to observe every living being's aura. The same ability that Luna had gained the day her mother died…
The dirty blond-haired witch was in no power to comfort the little girl in front of her. Yet, she was in the desperate need to hold her in her arms and to tell her that everything would be alright, that she would be in safety now. But Luna knew that she couldn't and would never be able to ensure such a promise. Luna observed passively and silently Mikan Sakura struggle with her new life, directed by her body's and its Stones' instability; directed by her initiative to stay away from her former friends, from fear to be rejected and to not be worthy enough to be in their company. So, she chose instead to protect them, ensure them a peaceful life, by dismounting all the clandestine organizations that tracked Alices. 'No one else would ever have to endure the same things I have gone through…'
In the hope to be able to understand more about what had happened to her, and how to master all her Alices, Mikan Sakura had progressively began her researches on the subject. During her investigations through the world, the young woman had discovered and been introduced to many hidden communities, but the one she stayed the longer in had been Kamar-Taj, which she had frequented for many years. The young woman had been slightly initiated to the Mystic Arts by an ageless woman named the Ancient One. The two became friends and Mikan opened progressively her heart to her tutor. The Ancient One allowed Mikan the full access to her private library, which resulted in the most interesting of discoveries, between the Infinity Stones, the Nine Realms, to Nicholas Flamel's personal diary, and all the enthralling and terrifying truths and secrets that were held in it…
Finally, Luna chose to broke eye contact. She had seen far enough to be able to be ensured of Mikan Sakura's trustworthiness; she didn't feel the need to see any further. The latter was pale, in fact Luna and Harry would have even said colorless… Shame, self-hatred and loneliness were storming in her hazel eyes. Yet, she still kept looking fiercely at them, with the confidence of a warrior. Mikan Sakura hadn't survived all these years for nothing, she wasn't deluded enough to spend all her time crying over her sorry fate or complaining about it. Too many people had given their lives to save hers, too many had died when she hadn't. Her life was the result of the strong love of two people who had barely been given the chance to consume their union; of Nonno Sakura's priceless affection and attention, who had taken care of her so well that she was still ashamed of her runaway, of living him alone. Mikan was alive thanks to Hotaru's sacrifice, the day she had taken a bullet instead of her; of Natsume's kindness and protectiveness; of so many others, just like Shiki, her Uncle, Tsubasa Sempai, Luca…
Harry looked worriedly at Luna, who was still crying, unconscious of the tears falling down her cheeks. Mikan surprised the two wizards when she advanced to Luna and wiped the last tears away from her wide silvery eyes. Finally, Mikan sighed heavily:
"I don't think that we can say that we are victims anymore." Mikan whispered softly in her hair, taking the small woman in her protective and warm embrace. "We do call survivors the people who, like us, are able to hold their head up to the sky after all what they had to endure, all what they have faced. We all died that day, wishing that our lives had ended for real, yet we had and still do have to go through the motions of being alive… We have to fight our demons, face them, but especially not let them rule our lives with fear and shame."
Luna nodded at the younger woman in her arms and smiled slightly at her, thankful: Mikan Sakura had guessed that she still hadn't spoken to Harry about that incident. In fact, she hadn't spoken about her aggression to anyone, she had kept that dirty secret to herself. Who would have understood what she had gone through? People saw her already as the loony and crazy woman whose father had handed the Golden Trio over to the Death Eaters. They would just accuse her to have fucked up with them, and the word hooker would simply be added to her list of names… The Wizarding Society was full of prejudices and wasn't any better than the Muggle World. If even possible, they were more close-minded than Muggles were, which was ironic since they had Magic! Indeed… This was the reason why all of this could be resumed in that clever sentence a Muggle woman had once said: 'Rape is the only crime in which the victim becomes the accused' This was sharp and harsh, but it was an inexorable truth. So why would Luna speak about it to anyone, if it would mean to suffer even more from it? Why would she do this to her friends who had themselves already suffered too much from the consequences of the war? She would have been either blamed or pitied, but not one would have been able to understand what she had endured…
"Oh dear! Your head is so full of Wrackspurts! You should be careful, or they are going to insert silly thoughts in your dreamy head!" teased Mikan playfully: the effect was instantaneous. Luna, who knew that the Alice in front of her had disabled her Mind-Reading for a long time already, giggled in surprise and looked at Mikan eagerly:
"You are able to see them too?!" asked the now excited woman, distracted enough to forget her problems. "I suppose that only people who can see others' auras will ever know about their existence…"
Harry had been worried by the strange interaction between Luna and Mikan Sakura, who was obviously trying to cheer up his friend upset by something unknown from him. So, when the ambiance between the two women passed from a sad and full of emotions one to a friendly discussion about Wrackspurts, Crumple-horned Snorkacks and all those creatures Luna believed into, Harry tried his very best to not choke on surprise. If he did, he wasn't even sure that it would even be noticed as the two women seemed to be completely absorbed in their own world. The only thing that he had understood from their weird exchange was that Mikan Sakura could have his entire trust and that he had to have a serious discussion with Luna when this mission would be over.
"Of course, I can see them! This Horcrux – it is how you call them right? – is full of them. Pretty nasty creatures, aren't they? They had a gift for choosing the most instable and deranged spirits. Well in this case a piece of soul. What a disgusting thing it is! I really do wonder who can do such an insane and immoral thing to himself…"
"Well Voldemort had made seven of them…" stated blankly Harry.
"Dear God!"
"He was a dangerous and powerful Dark Wizard who inspired so much fear inside the Wizarding Societies that people, even after his death, still call him 'You-Know-Who', 'The Dark Lord' or even 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named'. These eight Horcruxes had allowed him to expand incredibly his lifespan, and he couldn't die before all the soul's containers were destroyed…" explained Luna. "It has been Harry's quest to destroy them and to defeat him. Which he had managed to do at the age of seventeen."
Mikan smiled thoughtfully at the man in front of her and studied him with her penetrating gaze, making Harry feel uncomfortable. Finally, the younger woman smiled at him appreciatively:
"You have a kind, full of courage and daring soul. This may be the reason why you are so attracted to danger." at the sight of Harry's surprised expression and of the little blush on his cheeks, a playful sparkle twinkled in her hazel eyes before she added in a teasing tone of confidence: "You see, your charming friend and I have earned in our life the special ability to observe the world in a completely different way. To us, everything is a blur of colors and lights. From every object, every being does emanate a specific aura and light. This light does link everything together. As for the auras, it allows us to see deeply in the truth and nature of every beings. We have to be really concentrated to be able to observe the world the way you do, which is the reason why most of the people like us always does seem dreamy and detached of the world to the others, when we are, in fact, looking at its deepest."
"And I do believe that it is the reason why you wanted me to be the one to cast the spell. Your secrets will be well guarded with me, you do not have to worry about this." Luna paused, relieved to see some colors return to Mikan Sakura's face, who had been quite pale. "You are an incredible woman Mikan Sakura, I am very pleased to meet you and I really wish you to achieve your goals. I think that we could become very good friends!"
"Then Luna call me Mikan. Just Mikan and I will accept this new bound of friendship wholeheartedly!"
Harry observed, puzzled, the two new friends. Oddly, Harry wasn't that surprised by Mikan's explications: Luna had always been a very observant person, who was able to see in the deepest of someone's soul. 'Then, maybe Wrackspurts, Crumpled-Horned Snorkacks, and all those creatures, are only their ways to describe the vibes, auras and all that kind of stuff that only them are able to observe…' Harry watched Mikan Sakura and Luna beam simultaneously at each other, in a private way, that only the two of them could have understood. The twenty-eight years old man sighed amusedly at the two newly friends' extravagance: 'And a knew weird friendship has seen the day!' he thought. "Well girls, do you mind discussing about more serious matters?"
Luna only nodded, a dreamy smile back on her face, when Mikan smiled sheepishly at him.
"The S.H.I.E.L.D – I believe that you are its new members – has its advantages and good points, but this organization is far from being flawless, or fair." began Mikan, with an already more serious expression. "Currently, the S.H.I.E.L.D is in the possession of too dangerous weapons and Artefacts for them to handle, just like this one. My intention, when I came to the Helicarrier was to get Fury to tell me where were guarded the most dangerous ones. I just finished with the most important one and I came to take care of the Necklace, since it is the reason why I had to kill my friend ten years ago. To be honest with you, as long as this disgusting thing is destroyed, it doesn't really matter to me who will do it."
"Then don't worry about this. I know how to take care of these. At twelve, I destroyed one without being aware of the diary's real nature. I have destroyed and helped to destroy seven others afterwards." explained Harry, voluntarily omitting the fact that he had been one himself… "Horcruxes can only be destroyed if their containers are destroyed beyond repair. The venom of a basilisk, the killing curse, the Fiendfyre or the Sword of Gryffindor are the only confirmed magical ways to destroy them. We do have a basilisk's fang with us and we were about to use it just before you came."
"Well, before we do process into doing this, Mikan, I wondered, since you do possess the Evil Spirit Manipulation Alice, if you would mind trying to see to whom this Horcrux belongs and if there are others Horcruxes from its creator?" proposed subtly Luna, who saw Harry's clever eyes lighten up at her idea.
"If such a thing is possible it would truly be welcomed! No one wants another Dark Wizard to rise again from God knows where… There is no need to add more problems to the Earth's security; Loki's and the extraterrestrial's threats are already too much!" admitted Harry, who was inwardly trying to calm his new agitation.
Mikan sighed, she was rather reluctant to use her Alice on the Necklace, but she understood their point. The young woman closed her eyes and focused her mind on the strongest source of spiritual energy in the vault. She also enabled her Telepathy Alice, so Harry Potter and Luna could witness the exchange. When the Alice opened her eyes again, it was to be faced by the spectral shape of what seemed to be an Ancient Greek wizard, with distinctly snakelike features. He was smirking haughtily at her, just as if he had made a joke that he was the only one to understand.
"I believe that we do face each other again Mikan Sakura Yukihira… You seem quite mad…" he stated amusingly, "…Do you still hold your friend's death against me?"
Mikan inhaled deeply and clenched her fists, her eyes had become a shade darker, burning with hatred. It was her turn to smirk at him:
"And I think that it will be the last time you will face someone!"
"If I was you I wouldn't be so confident! My Magic is more powerful than Tom Riddle's. Your two friends will never be able to destroy the Necklace with a basilisk fang! How funny isn't?!" he sniggered coldly, looking down upon her. He added in a patronizing tone: "You see dear child, I was the first wizard to hatch a Basilisk and I am the one who created the Horcrux crafting process, all my Horcruxes are protected by the darkest kind of Magic, no one had ever been able to destroy any of them!"
Harry and Luna looked at each other in horror. Herpo the Foul was still alive and the three Horcruxes that he had always liked to brag about were undestroyed!
"Mikan, this wizard is well known in all the Wizarding Societies as Herpo the Foul. All we have ever known about him is the fact that he had created three Horcruxes. Voldemort had been a lot inspired by his works and achievement… Do you think that you could bring him to talk more about them?" asked Harry.
"I'll try." responded the Alice, without turning her gaze from the Dark Wizard's heavy and burning stare. "So, you have created other Horcruxes?" asked rhetorically Mikan. Men like him had all the same weakest spot: their incommensurable ego. She had to focus on it: "If your technique is so perfect, I don't see why you did feel the need to create more than one…"
Herpo the Foul's ghostly features hardened:
"Are you doubting the perfection of my technics? How insulting coming from such a young pathetic child as yourself! Let me tell you this, three is a powerful magical number, the best for the creation of Horcruxes. When someone creates less it isn't as functional and if this number is exceeded then the soul become too instable. It is a part of the rituals." he told her haughtily, just as if it was the most evident thing in the world.
"You were right about me criticizing the perfection of your creation. It is well known that Horcruxes are the most vulgar ways to expand someone's life! Sorcerers and wizards have actually found better ways to do exactly the same without damaging their biggest source of magical energy! Nicholas Flamel's Philosopher's Stone is already a better option!"
"Oh, please darling!" sighed dramatically the ghostly figure, "Are you talking about Allice's creation? A pretty lame idea if you want my opinion!" he affirmed condescendingly, "What's the point of tiring yourself with organizing massive bloodbaths, genocides, world wars to be able to resource constantly a stone? A big waste of time I would say, even though it is enthralling to see entire populations being the dolls of a single man's will!"
Mikan wasn't surprised by the real nature of Nicholas Flamel, she already knew that the Philosopher's Stone derived its power from people's souls, allowing its owner to extend his life as he pleased. It was the same for Harry, he didn't know about how the Stone worked, yet he had his own reasons to believe in the Foul's words: "Flamel was a good friend of Dumbledore, it just seems that both men shared a great talent at manipulating others' mind…" Yet, Mikan couldn't help but stiff inwardly at the mention of Allice.
"Are you saying that Nicholas Flamel isn't the one who created the Philosopher's Stone?" asked Mikan, faking being shocked. 'People like him speaks a lot when they feel that they are superior to their opponents…'
"That is exactly what I'm saying. All his works are in fact the production of an Asgardian Sorcerer. I definitely prefer my own methods! Where's the point of immortality if you are dependent of someone else?" his cruel, cold, snakelike eyes exanimating her. "Allice was a clever Sorcerer he gifted Flamel with the Philosopher's Stone to ensure his loyalty. Flamel was just a coworker, merely an equal, rather a slave dominated by his master's will…"
"I've read enough about him to tell you that you are wrong. Nicholas Flamel is known to be the only being in the Nine Realms whose knowledge could have matched Allice's." baited him Mikan, knowing that he couldn't let pass such an insult to his ego. She seemed to have been right since his aura darkened, if such a thing was even possible.
Harry was now completely lost, Mikan Sakura, a twenty-four years old Muggle raised woman seemed to know more about Nicholas Flamel than he, Luna and Hermione, all reunited did. He frowned and observed intently the tense exchange between one of the most powerfully Dark Wizard of the Wizarding World and the young woman he had just been introduced to. Yet, Harry had to admit that Mikan Sakura had earned his complete respect in less than a half hour. Her head high, she was facing the danger as fiercely as a tigress. Indeed, she didn't seem to be impressed by her opponent, rather disgusted by him.
"It is because everyone thought that I was dead back then. In fact, they still do, and it is the time to change it…" Herpo the Foul smiled evilly at her, his snakelike features making him look like a predator appreciating his new prey. "You see child, I have myself worked with Allice for one thousand years more than Flamel did. Believe me, I know how to recognize his magical signature, and if I have sensed it in you at our previous encounter, it wasn't as strong as it is today. You are truly interesting… You do possess at least two fragments of the Soul Stone in your body, don't you? What a lucky day for me!"
As soon as he said it, Mikan felt a strong and aggressive wave of spiritual energy directed at her. Immediately, she activated her Barrier Alice and created the strongest shield she had ever held to protect herself and her two companions, who had taken a position of defense, back to back. The blast wave was so powerful that it made the entire structure shake.
Herpo the Foul kept reiterating repeatedly his assaults, trying to find a weak spot on the barrier; "Good luck!" thought smugly Mikan, "It is one of the Alices I'm the most compatible with! And, if I was to reinforce it with my Amplification, all my shields would become unbreakable…"
"What should we do? We can't just teleport and let the Artefact here!" cried Harry trying to cover up the loud noise.
"I may have a solution!" yelled the young Alice back: "I know how to confine spiritual energy, even though I've never tried with such a powerful one… Yes, I think that I have the perfect solution! Just give me your basilisk's fang!"
Mikan used her Space Distortion Alice to make a small two-finger ring appear, the Sling Ring that had been gifted to her by the Ancient One. Indeed, during her stay at Kamar-Taj, Mikan hadn't spent all her time only reading books. In fact, the Ancient One had accepted and proposed to tutor in the arts of sorcery. She had taught her how to withdraw power from the Personal, Universal and Dimensional energies, in order to be able to stabilize her own body, who was like she had described it: 'Your body contain too much power and is a time bomb that is going to explode soon or later. By learning how to draw power from the three different categories of Magic, you will be able to strengthen your body. I personally think that you should focus your training on the Universal energies…'
Mikan took the new appeared Sling Ring and wore it on her left hand. Mikan traced her right hand in a circular pattern, while focusing on her desired destination: The Mirror Dimension, which was a parallel dimension ever presents but undetected. What happened in that dimension didn't affect the real world and it was a good option to contain threats just as the one she was currently facing. Mikan hadn't forgotten the Ancient One's advices and warnings 'You don't want to be stuck in here without wearing your Sling Ring.'
Harry and Luna witnessed the first portal Mikan had conjured enclose itself around the Necklace, which make it vanish from the vault.
"I am going to fight it in another dimension that won't affect this world. There is something that I want to try, but I'll need your basilisk's fang" Mikan explained quickly to Harry and Luna.
Harry shacked his head, still startled by the strange nature of the Magic Mikan Sakura had just used in front of them.
"We are coming with you." he said firmly.
"We can't follow her, Harry. The Mirror Dimension is very dangerous for people like us who had never been trained to get into it, or just who doesn't own a Sling Ring" sighed Luna. She pulled from her bag the fang and handed it over to Mikan. "Just be careful.". The Alice nodded silently at her, drew another portal and entered in the Mirror Dimension.
Just as always, the scenery was the space distorted version of the room in which she had drawn the portal. In fact, the space was continually and rapidly distorting, which was the reason why it would have taken her a little time to find the Horcrux she had placed in it if it hadn't taken the initiative to assault her. Mikan dodged every assault skillfully, thanks to her flexibility and to her Barrier Alice. Just as before Herpo the Foul's piece of soul was assaulting her at an astounding rate. Powerful waves of spiritual energy were mercilessly thrown towards her, never reaching their constantly moving target. The best defense is a good attack… It was a universally acknowledge strategic principle of war and Herpo the Foul was hanging on it. Mikan Sakura was able to block his attacks, which was the reason why the Horcrux was trying to not let her the time to think or to attack it.
Since this could have lasted the entire day, Mikan activated her Doppelganger Alice, fulling the entire room with countless clones, all protected by her strong and unbreakable shields. It was her turn to take the offensive. She doted each one with the Evil Spirit Manipulation Alice and a fang whose venom had been powered by her Amplification Alice.
The Evil Spirit Manipulation Alice was supposed to allow its user to control evil spirits and demons. Not only is the holder able to manipulate evil spirits but can also absorb most negative spiritual Alice attacks to amplify the holder's own Alice. The latter option was impossible as it worked only on Alice's attacks, but the first one would be possible if Mikan achieved to reduce the enormous spiritual strength of the Horcrux… Which was exactly what Mikan proceeded into. Her clones were too strong and well protected for the spirituals attacks, and, if some were hit by the blows, the others did find their ways to the Horcrux, stabbing repeatedly it with the basilisk's fangs. Mikan kept this sustained rhythm for an indefinite period of time, to the point that she wouldn't be able to say if twenty minutes or hours had passed before she could see some result of her efforts.
The spiritual strength of the Horcrux was progressively fading, as Mikan had added her Corrosion Alice to the effect of the basilisk's venom. When it had reached a controllable level, Mikan tried to master The Foul's spirit with Yoichi's Alice. She smiled as it reluctantly submitted to her will.
"You were right. Today is a lucky day. Sadly, for you, luck is on my side!"
"Are sure?" the Foul's eyes were mocking her, more condescending than ever… "You don't look like someone who has won, rather like someone who is dying!" he sniggered viciously at her, pointing at her. The darkish black color of her skin was now contrasting with the pallor of her face.
"If I do not end this fast, I am going to lose control over my Alices…"
"What was your connection with Allice?" replied Mikan, choosing to ignore his mockery.
"I've worked with him for nearly two thousand years… He came to me at first because he wanted to study more closely the differences and similarities of the different kinds of Magic. I was the most powerful wizard on Earth, so it was logical that Allice would take an interest on me… He also studied and worked with the Sorcerer Supreme of that time."
"What do you know about his work on the Stones?"
"Allice was constantly in research of more power, he thought that by mastering a better knowledge of the Realms' history the different kinds of Magics, he would be more likely to find the Stones."
"What was your part in his research? I don't think that all he wanted from you to was to study your Magic. No. Allice could have chosen any other wizard who wasn't half as rotten and untrustworthy as you are! This means that he needed you." asked Mikan, frustrated and afraid to learn more about the matter. She was certain that whatever Herpo the Foul was to tell her, it wasn't going to please her at the very least.
"You are quite a perceptive little girl, aren't you? You do have traces of Allice's magic inside your body. I do believe that you do possess one of these Alice Stones he has created. And, from what I have observed, it seems obvious to me that you are the holder of at least one of the Two Alices… I'd even say two… Who are you?"
"Well tried, darling, but I am the one who asks the questions in here, and you the one to respond to them. So, I'm asking it one last time: What – Do – You – Know – About – Allice?" Mikan asked through clenched teeth.
"As you may already know, Odin and two of his brothers, Ve and Vili, had tried to take Surtur, the King of the Fire Giants, down after they were done with Ymir, the Frost Giant. The three brothers wanted to prevent the Ragnarok from happening. They achieved into doing this, but Ve and Vili were killed in the process…"
"Tell me something that I don't know!" cut him coldly Mikan. "I am not here for you to give me an history course!".
She could see his ghostly features tighten, and Mikan felt a perverted pleasure into angering him.
"After defeating Surtur, Odin stole his Eternal Flame and earned the Odinforce. Later, Allice had managed to steal the Twilight Sword, without Odin's knowledge. Only Frost and Fire Giants can use this enormous sword. But it did have powerful magical properties that interested Allice a lot.", Herpo the Foul posed, his traits full of arrogance. "The sword is catalyst for magic energies, and it can increase its user power, while acting also as a shield to prevent other magic objects form harming its user to a point. It also has the power to cut all forms of metals and magic barriers. He wanted me to find a way for him to make a replicate, with the same properties, that he would be able to use… At that time, his magical skills only allowed him to make unpalpable illusions."
"You seem to be rather proud of yourself. Am I wrong to say that you have achieved into doing so?"
The Dark Wizard smiled evilly at her.
"Not only have I been able to do it, but it had also allowed me to create the Fiendfyre spell!"
"…And?"
"Allice sword is my second Horcrux. It is only when he came into the possession of the Soul Stone that he did found out about it, which is the reason why he stopped nearly all our interactions. You will never be able to find it."
"What else do you know about him?"
"He had hidden his whole works into four books: The History of The Nine Realms, which hide a copy of The Book of Cagliostro; The Theory of the Seven Universes; The Tales of Beedle the Bard and Flamel's Diary. He had charmed them so only the holders of the Two Alices and Loki Laufeyson may be able to find and read them."
Mikan felt her heart beat faster, her body trembling with excitation. She was already in the possession of one of these books and maybe it contained clues to find the others that she hadn't seen. Suddenly, she realized the meaning of the second part of his sentence… Loki was the only other living being who would have been able to find the books. But why?
"Where did he hide them? And why would Allice want Loki to find his books?"
"Isn't evident?"
"No. It is not. Tell me."
"Two of them are hidden on earth and two on Asgard. They do only appear when the Two Alices do. Do not ask me for a precise location, Allice didn't trust me enough to let me be in the confidence…"
"A clever man he was, wasn't he? Tell me, just tell me who the hell is going to trust someone, who has splitted three time in a row his soul?" asked ironically Mikan, the dark marks on her face not hiding to the very least the disgust, nor the hatred she held toward him.
"… Well, if you hadn't interrupted me, I would have explained you what Loki's part in this is…"
"Oh, believe me, I do have all my time to interrogate you. Speak!"
"You are soooo rude! Darling, tell me: do you really think that Odin, a pitiless diplomatic and warrior, would have taken with him and raised the son of the man who took his eye, without being convinced to do so?"
Mikan's eyes widened in comprehension: "Allice is the one who convinced him to do so. And strangely, Loki turns out to be Asgard most powerful Sorcerer! But why? Loki is Jotun."
"Exactly. Allice tricked Laufey and Snotra, the Asgardian goddess of cleverness, into conceiving a child. I was the one who brewed the potion he used in that very intent: Amortentia, the most powerful love potion existent in the Nine Realms… Laufey is the king of the Frost Giants, while Snotra was the most powerful Sorceress of Asgard, next to Frigga... He wanted an heir, whose magical abilities could one day surpass his."
"So… You are telling me that Loki is simply the result of an experiment?!" choked Mikan, worried about Loki's reaction if he was ever to find out about this truth…
"Yes… Loki is only half Jotun, a bastard, born from an unreal union… Allice only possible problem was to get rid of Snotra, which he managed successfully to do by killing her during the Asgardian-Jotunheim War, fueled by his schemes...
It is only logical. Having Loki raised in Asgard was doubly strategical. For Odin, he was simply a bargaining chip for future political negotiations. For Allice, Loki was way more important: as a Frost Giant raised in Asgard, he had the potential to master the two kinds of Magic to a very extended level. Furthermore, Loki real nature allows him to use the Casket of Ancient Winters and the Twilight Sword…"
Mikan closed her eyes, disgusted. Her and Loki's life had been full of lies because of the same man.
"What is your last Horcrux? Where did you put it?" she suddenly asked. All she wanted now was to get quickly get rid of the Necklace in front of her. "Do you know anything else about him?"
"Perseus' Helm of Darkness, this is my last Horcrux… You can't find it. It was taken and reforged by Hela, who is rotting in Hel now…"
"Loki's daughter?"
Mikan was surprised to see him laugh uncontrollably at her and tried to remain, so she waited, frustrated, for him to stop.
"Do not believe all of what is written in books… Really, how funny it was! Hela isn't Loki's but Odin's firstborn daughter, real sister of Thor... She had been banished from Asgard and imprisoned in Hel by her own father, who thought that she was too dangerous since she wanted to conquer the Nine Realms…" mocked Herpo the Foul.
'Let it to the Norse gods to have the most complicated family relationships…' thought Mikan, exasperated. "You didn't respond my last question… Is there anything else that you could tell me about Allice, or his projects?" she reminded him.
"… No." the spirit admitted reluctantly, knowing too well what was going to happen next.
Mikan didn't wait any further and imprisoned the Horcrux inside a strong and unbreakable barrier, so it would contain all the evil curses protecting the Horcrux… After all, then Necklace had been weakened enough to be destroyed by the Corrosion Alice and Mikan used all her restante strength to turn it into ashes.
The young woman inhaled, coughing uncontrollably, and struggled to breath. Mikan was hurting everywhere, Dark marks were covering all her body: she had officially abused too much of the Corrosion Alice. Shaking, Mikan willed herself into drawing another portal. Everything was a confused blur of color and darkness; her mind was a blur of color and darkness. Where had she been? Which destination was she going to? Mikan collected her last forces, passed the portal, which enclosed itself behind her. As she collapsed, she didn't see Loki's catching her unconscious body, confused by her state and her sudden apparition.
AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA AGA
A.N:
I really hope that you have liked this chapter.
I just wanted to say that I know many people who had gone through rape, and, even though it is hard to do, women and men who had endured this should not keep it for themselves. The only person to blame is the rapper not the victim.